Two Violent Incidents Involving Cook County Men And Firearms; Bond Denied In Both Cases
Curtis Lyons, 37 (d.o.b. 3/27/1985) of the 2000 block of 6th Avenue, Maywood, is being held without bond.
“IT IS ALLEGED THAT MR. LYONS PUT AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AT RISK WHEN HE FIRED MORE THAN THIRTY SHOTS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,” BERLIN SAID. “THIS TYPE OF VIOLENT, CRIMINAL CONDUCT, AS ALLEGED AGAINST MR. LYONS, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN DUPAGE COUNTY AND WILL BE MET WITH THE FULL FORCE AND EFFECT OF THE LAW.”
VILLA PARK - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced today that bond has been denied for a Cook County man accused of firing a machine gun multiple times into a residential neighborhood in Villa Park. Curtis Lyons, 37 (d.o.b. 3/27/1985) of the 2000 block of 6th Avenue, Maywood, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Lyons is charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal, one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm and two counts of Unlawful Use of Weapon by a Felon - Machine Gun. All charges are a Class X Felony.
On January 25, 2023, at approximately 8:47 p.m., officers with the Villa Park Police Department were dispatched to the area of Chatham and Plymouth for a call of shots fired. Upon their arrival, officers found numerous shell casings in the intersection of Chatham and Plymouth. Through the course of their investigation, officers developed Lyons as a suspect in the case. It is alleged that Lyons had arranged to sell drugs to an acquaintance and that as Lyons approached the other individual, he opened fire more than thirty times with a Glock 19 mm that had been altered with a switch to allow it to fire as a fully automatic weapon. It is further alleged that Lyons fired more than thirty rounds, one of which struck a nearby home, before fleeing the scene. Officers with the Villa Park Police Department were able to locate Lyons in a residence on Cornell where, after executing a search warrant, officers found a 9 mm Glock 19 with a fully automatic switch and a laser light, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9 mm, a fifty-round drum magazine containing eight rounds and approximately $7,000 in cash.
“It is alleged that Mr. Lyons put an entire neighborhood at risk when he fired more than thirty shots in a matter of seconds,” Berlin said. “This type of violent, criminal conduct, as alleged against Mr. Lyons, will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be met with the full force and effect of the law. Thankfully, no innocent bystanders or anyone in the residence were injured as a result of this alleged behavior. I commend the Villa Park Police Department for their outstanding work in the quick identification and apprehension of Mr. Lyons as a suspect in this case. I also thank the numerous assisting agencies as well as DuPage County MERIT for their efforts. I thank Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Henley for her work in securing strong charges against Mr. Lyons.”
“As a community and as a society, we cannot accept acts of violence regardless of circumstances” Rivas said. “Habitual violent criminals will not abide by the laws set forth in this state and federally. That is why when an act of violence occurs, the community and law enforcement must act swiftly and collaboratively to help bring all who will do harm to justice. It was an incredible amount of great police work done by Villa Park Officers, Detectives and support staff to quickly identify and locate the alleged offender. I thank the assisting law enforcement agencies of Lombard, Addison, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and Oak Brook Terrace as well as MERIT METRO SWAT for their actions. We would lastly like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Henley for their invaluable assistance and counsel to help generate serious, and appropriate charges against the alleged offender.”
Lyons’ next court appearance is scheduled for February 23, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For the Second Time Today, Bond Denied for Cook County Man Charged with Armed Habitual Criminal
Michael Ducksworth, 35 (d.o.b. 11/1/1987) of the 15000 block of Myrtle Street, Harvey, appeared at a bond hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Joshua Dieden who granted the State’s motion to deny bond.
DEFENDANT currently on parole for a 2020 Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction.
VILLA PARK - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced today that bond has been denied for a Cook County man charged with Armed Habitual Criminal, among other offenses. Michael Ducksworth, 35 (d.o.b. 11/1/1987) of the 15000 block of Myrtle Street, Harvey, appeared at a bond hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Joshua Dieden who granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Ducksworth, who is presently on parole for a 2020 Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction out of Cook County, has been charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon While on Parole (Class 2 Felony), one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony) one count of Illegal Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanor traffic offenses including Fleeing or Eluding a Police Officer.
On January 26, 2023, at approximately 11:30 p.m., an officer with the Villa Park Police Department ran the license plate of a suspicious vehicle, a 2020 Nissan Kicks SV, to find that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Harvey the previous day. Once backup arrived, the officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the Nissan did not stop. Following an approximately eight-minute-long, two-mile pursuit, the vehicle came to a stop in Oakbrook Terrace. It is alleged that once the vehicle came to a stop, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Ducksworth, fled the vehicle on foot. It is alleged that as he fled, Ducksworth was in possession of a firearm and that he ignored officers’ commands to drop the weapon. Officers were able to catch Ducksworth and tackle him to the ground at which time Ducksworth allegedly fell on top of the weapon and continued to resist officers. It is alleged that once officers eventually restrained Duckworth, he was in possession of a Taurus 380 handgun with five bullets in the magazine as well as two 8-balls of cocaine (approximately seven grams total).
“For the second time today, a DuPage County judge denied bond for a defendant accused of committing serious crimes,” Berlin said. “The quick apprehension and subsequent denial of bond sends the message that law enforcement in DuPage County takes violent crimes very seriously and the consequences of being caught here with an illegal, dangerous firearm will be swift and significant. I once again commend the Villa Park Police Department for their efforts not only on this case but for their continued commitment to public safety. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sara Henley and Alyssa Rabulinski for their efforts in securing strong charges against the defendant.”
“Felons in stolen vehicles will only lead to more violent crime in our respective communities,” Rivas said. “This is a pattern law enforcement agencies in DuPage have experienced. Once a stolen vehicle is located, the Villa Park Police Department will go to great lengths to stop that vehicle and bring the occupants of a stolen vehicle to justice. In this case, the Villa Park officers and detectives acted swiftly and effectively to take the alleged armed suspect off the streets. We thank the Oak Brook Terrace and Elmhurst Police Departments as well as the Chicago Police Department helicopter and other surrounding agencies for their assistance in the low-speed pursuit and apprehension of the alleged offender. We also thank DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Assistant State’s Attorneys Sara Henley and Alyssa Rabulinski for their tireless assistance in bringing about these serious charges.”
Ducksworth’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 21, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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